Kevin Downes hoping concussion blues are firmly in the past

“How did I know concussion was going to be mentioned?” asked Kevin Downes afterwards, with a wry smile.

It being such a hot topic at the moment and this being the week he should return to the Na Piarsaigh team, his absence from November’s Munster final win as a result of a head trauma injury wasn’t going to be overlooked at a national media event.

The Sunday before the final, he had jumped to retrieve a puck-out near the sideline just seconds prior to the referee confirming the Limerick side’s semi-final win over Thurles Sarsfields. Colliding with an opponent, the 24-year-old was still able to walk off the field but the pain gradually became more of a concern.